Mike Rounds Archives

From left, Sens. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., Mark Warner, D-Va., and Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, attend a Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee markup in the Dirksen building on July 29, 2025. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

Warner, Rounds float federal commission to guide AI policymaking

The bipartisan Economy of the Future Commission Act seeks to deliver bipartisan policy solutions geared toward solving AI workforce challenges.

2 days ago By Matt Bracken

SEC Chair Paul Atkins, arrives to testify before the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee on Feb. 12, 2026. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

SEC chair considers ‘innovation exemption’ for in-house AI testing

Paul Atkins told lawmakers he’s eyeing a “sandbox-like environment” for entrepreneurs. The idea seems to align with a bipartisan Senate bill and the White House’s AI Action…

Feb 17, 2026 By Matt Bracken

Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., listens as Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., speaks during a news conference at the Capitol on May 15, 2024 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)

Lawmakers take another shot at NSF-run prizes for using AI to solve problems

The bipartisan, bicameral AI Grand Challenges Act would task NSF with overseeing $1 million competitions where innovators use AI to solve problems in health, energy, cyber and…

Feb 10, 2026 By Matt Bracken

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent testifies before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Feb. 5, 2026 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

Treasury pushing for ‘robust’ use of AI in banking, but in a ‘gradual’ way

Secretary Scott Bessent said there’s still “a great amount of learning to do” on AI during a pair of Hill appearances this week about FSOC’s annual report…

Feb 5, 2026 By Matt Bracken

Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., speaks onstage at the Puck Power Breakfast on Oct. 23, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images for Puck)

GOP senator: Legal immigration is ‘critical’ to US success in AI race

Calling immigration a “challenging subject,” Sen. Mike Rounds said the “best and the brightest” foreign-born workers are needed to take advantage of the emerging technology.

Oct 29, 2025 By Matt Bracken

The Securities and Exchange Commission headquarters is seen on April 25, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Lawmakers renew push for enforcement-free AI testing at financial agencies

Financial regulatory agencies would house AI innovation labs to test projects without “burdensome regulation or expectation of enforcement actions” under the bipartisan, bicameral bill.

Jul 30, 2025 By Matt Bracken

A sign marks the entrance to the Department of Commerce headquarters building on April 30, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Photo by J. David Ake/Getty Images)

With trust in AI flagging, senators want Commerce to lead education campaign

The bipartisan bill comes as House Republicans want to give the agency $500 million for AI and modernization while also barring enforcement of state-level AI regulations.

May 12, 2025 By Matt Bracken

Bipartisan Senate bill seeks to leverage AI for new pandemic preparedness program

The bill would establish a program called “MedShield” that would use AI to protect against future pandemics.

Sep 26, 2024 By Madison Alder

Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., speaks at a microphone as Senate Minority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., listen after an AI Insight Forum in November 2023. — Sen. Mike Rounds speaks after a November 2023 AI Insight Forum in the Senate. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Biomedical data center, financial services reporting included in Rounds’ AI bill package

Five bills from Senate AI Caucus co-chair Mike Rounds, R-S.D., proposals touching health, financial services and defense.

Aug 30, 2024 By Madison Alder

U.S. Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D, N.Y., and Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., speak to reporters following a Senate Forum on Artificial Intelligence in the Russell Senate Office Building on October 24, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Anna Rose Layden/Getty Images)

Government AI funding among priorities in Senate working group roadmap

The roadmap for artificial intelligence policy encourages the executive branch and appropriators to support $32 billion in annual innovation funding.

May 15, 2024 By Madison Alder